Find answers to common questions about dental care, appointments, insurance, and more. Book an appointment with our skilled dentists today and achieve a healthy and beautiful smile. If you have any additional questions, please reach out as we are happy to answer any and all questions you may have.
Are Dental Implants painful?
Implants seem like they would be a painful procedure, but it’s not as invasive or painful as it seems. Most patients say the only discomfort they have is general discomfort the day the implant is placed and the next few days just a little bit of gum tenderness.
What options are available if I’m dental phobic and scared to come in for my appointment?
We offer many solutions to help you take care of your dental health as comfortably as possible. We offer Nitrous Oxide, also known as laughing gas. Many patients like to use nitrous oxide as it helps to lower inhibitions and relax them a bit. We also offer oral sedation, as well as I.V. sedation; both of which require a driver to and from the appointment. Have more questions about sedation please give us a call and we can talk over your options.
Do you take my insurance?
We are in network for Delta Dental Premier. Many of our patients have other dental plans that we will submit for them, they will be an out of network benefit, but many of the plans still pay a percentage of the visit.
Do I need to arrive early for my first appointment?
No, if we have your contact information, we will send a link so that you can fill out all the necessary paperwork before you arrive.
Are you accepting new patients?
Always!
Do you see children at your office?
We sure do, we are a family practice, we don’t have any age restrictions. We’d love to be the office your whole family feels comfortable coming to.
Are there any age restrictions for Invisalign?
Patients can begin treatment as early as age 8, and we have patients all the way into their 90’s having Invisalign treatment done.
What kind of payments do you accept?
We accept cash, check, or credit card.
Do you offer outside financing?
We do, we offer Care Credit, as well as Cherry financing. Please give us a call if you’d like more information.
How soon can I get an appointment?
In most cases, we can see you within the week you call.
Do you offer free consultations?
Yes, we do!
If I’m pregnant, can I still come in for cleanings and dental treatment?
You sure can, just let us know and if we need to make arrangements or special considerations for your treatment, we will take care of it.
Do you place silver fillings?
In our office we no longer offer silver fillings. For a long time, those were the best option for a filling, however they do have their downsides. We only bond composite restorations for fillings, they are long lasting and less detrimental to the teeth overall.
If I need a crown, how many appointments do I need?
In most cases, you can have your crown completed and permanently seated all in the same appointment.
Do you offer sleep appliances?
We do! Sleep apnea is very common, and while not everyone is a candidate for a sleep appliance, those that are very happy with our Prosomnus Sleep appliance, which helps them achieve a restful night’s sleep and stops snoring.
Why is a teeth cleaning important?
Our whole bodies are connected, and sometimes the first sign of a health condition can be found through your regular dental checkups. Plaque on your teeth has been shown to have a direct correlation to plaque in your heart. Many illnesses can cause dry mouth, which can alert you to look into your whole-body health
Why do my gums bleed when I brush and floss?
Regular bleeding with dental hygiene is often a sign of Periodontal Disease, if not addressed it can progress quickly and lead to tooth loss.
How often do I need to change my toothbrush or electric toothbrush head?
We recommend changing your brush every 6 months, and every time after being ill. Our mouth harbors plenty of bacteria, and you don’t want to introduce new bacteria by keeping a brush around longer than necessary.
Do I really need x-rays?
X-rays to help to see what is going on. Most decay starts in between the teeth and without x-rays we can’t see it to address it until its significantly progressed. X-rays also help us find any conditions or issues you may have going on that you haven’t had any symptoms for.
Are X-Rays safe?
Yes, while having x-rays means some form of radiation, we get radiation from several things throughout the course of a day in life. Our x-rays are digital which cuts way down on the amount of radiation needed to obtain the x-ray. A full set of x-rays at our office is less radiation than a couple of hours in front of the television.
When should I bring in my child for their first dental visit?
We usually like to see the kids for their first visit around age 2-3. We start them with a “happy visit.” At that first appointment we let them sit in the chair, feel what it feels like to lean back in it, we count their teeth and talk a little about brushing habits. We want the kids to have a great start with their dental providers!
Does Whitening (bleaching) damage my teeth?
We get this question a lot. The whitening we offer here at Smiles by Design will not damage your teeth. That being said, whitening of any kind can temporarily increase sensitivity. We advise the use of Clinpro prescription fluoride toothpaste while whitening.
Which is better a manual toothbrush or an electric toothbrush?
Either way as long as you are brushing you are ahead of the game. However, we do recommend an electric toothbrush as they have a lot of features to help make sure you are brushing long enough, and not placing too much pressure when brushing. The electric toothbrush does all the work for you and you don’t have to “scrub” the teeth.
I have a bump or swelling on my gum, what should I do?
Often, a bump on the gums or swelling is an indication of an infection. We recommend coming in so that we can take an x-ray and get the infection treated as soon as possible.
How long will my first appointment take?
Your first appointment with a hygienist will be scheduled for two hours. We schedule two hours so that we can get an in-depth assessment of your mouth. We will take several records to make sure that we can see and inform you of the complete health of your mouth. If you are coming in to just see the dentist, the time may vary depending on the situation.
My child has an adult tooth coming in, but the baby tooth is still there, what should I do?
We recommend that you bring the child in so we can take a look. Sometimes the adult tooth misses the mark with the baby tooth. If that happens the roots on the baby tooth do not dissolve as normal, and the baby tooth will likely need to be extracted.
What if my previous office has my current x-rays?
No problem! Just let us know and we can have you sign a consent we can send over to your previous office and have them send us any pertinent information.